Steering knuckle



March 10, 1931. R, GURNEY 1,795,428

STEERING KNUCKLE Filed Feb. 11, 1928 Patented Mar. 10, 1931 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ERVING B. GURNEY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOB TOINTERNATIONAL MOTOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OFDELAWARE STEERING KNUCKLE Application filed. February 11, 1928. SerialNo. 253,562.

Steering knuckles have been designed to provide center point steeringwith a straight knuckle pin. These designs have avoided, in so far aspossible, any overhang of the Wheel with respect to the axis of theknuckle pin. \Vhere the wheel spindle is journaled'in a knuckle pin,outwardly of the axle, the plane of the wheel is extended considerablybeyond the axis of the knuckle pin and the extremity 10 of the axle.Certain forms of steering knuckles have utilized a straight knuckle pinjournaled in the extremity of the axle and carrying a knuckle having alongitudinal housing for the wheelspindle'above the upper extremity ofthe knuckle pin. This shifts the plane of the wheel near the axle andenables the steering of the vehicle to be bettered considerably.

The present invention relates to steering knuckles of the latter type,which are journaled upon straight knuckle pins and carry the wheelspindle in a longitudinal housing above the pin. More specifically, theinventionresides in the provision of an improved form of knuckle whichfacilitates the lubrica tion of all of'the bearings associated therewithand provides a thrust bearing in the bottom of the steering knucklestructure which receives and distributes the thrust of 30 the vehicleload upon the knuckle more effectively. I

In accordance with the above, an object of this invention is to providea steering knuckle which may be lubricated at a single pointconveniently located thereon, the struc ture being such that thelubricant is carried to all of the bearings associated with the knuckle.The knuckle, being sealed at all of the bearings, prevents leakage ofthe lubricant from the interior thereof.

Another object of the invention is to pro-' vide a thrust bearing in theknuckle to receive the thrust of the knuckle pin which carries the loadof the vehicle.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds and referencewill now be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an end view, in a plane through the axle, of the improvedknuckle construction.

Figure 2 is aview, in section, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1 and lookingin the direction of the arrows.

Referring to thedrawings, a designates a steering knuckle provided atone side with an opening a to receive an axle b of a vehicle. Theinterior of the knuckle is hollow as at a in order that the axleextremity and knuckle pin may be received therein. -The lower extremityof the knuckle is formed with a hollow cylindrical portion a, interiorlythreaded and receiving a cap a? which is screwed thereinto. The cap a isformed with a'spherical bearing surface a upon which is carried a buttona having a cooperating spherical bearing surface to engage the bearingsurface a Groove a in the cap a provides a means for threading it intothe cylindrical portion a and diametrically spaced slots a cooperatingwith dog a afford a means for locking the cap in a desired position. Thedog a may be secured in position by clamping it between nibs a by bolt aAt its upper extremity, the knuckle is pro vided with a cup-shapedflange (L12 for receiving bearings 0 between the wheel spindle (Z andthe knuckle. The wheel (l is formed with a groove (Z whichcarriespacking (Z to engage the outer extremity of the cup-shaped flangea. This serves to seal the: bearing 0 and prevent lubricant fromescaping. Longitudinal housing a is formed in the knuckle above thecavity a and receives the wheel spindle (Z. On the opposite side of theknuckle from the cup-shaped flange a, is formeda second enlargedcylindrical flange a to receive the bearii'igi 0 at the extremity of thewheel spindle. Cap 6 and a gasket 6 are secured to the extremity of. thecylindrical flange a and serve to seal the knuckle at this point.

The axle I) is formed with a tapered bearing 1) which receivesacorrespondingly tapered knuckle pin At its upper end, the knuckle pin ismounted in a bearing 0 which is sealed by means of disc 9 and packing 5thus preventing the escape of lubricant from the knuckle at this point.The knuckle pin rests upon the button a and lateral movement of thelower extremity thereof with respect to the knuckle is resisted by thebearing 0 carried between the lower extremity of the knuckle pin and thecap a. A shoulder f" on the knuckle pin engages a disc h to cause it toconfine packing it between it and the cap at and cylindrical portion aof the knuckle pin. This seals the bearing 0 and prevents the escape oflubricant from the knuckle through such bearing.

At the'top of the knuckle, and communicating with the housing al arecess a is formed. Bracket i, for mounting the brake, isformed with adownwardly extending flange 71 for engaging and closing the aperture a".Pipe fitting i in this bracket serves as a means for introducinglubricant into the interior ofthe knuckle. The knuckle pin is formedwith an axial hollow portion and radialgrooves f adjacent the button awhich communicate with the hollow portion It will be seen that lubricantsupplied through the pipe fitting i will be forced through the knuckleand to all of the bearings carried thereby. The housing (1, will permitthe lubricant to be supplied to the bearings 0 and c as Well as thebearing 0 While the hollow knuckle pin will carry lubricant tothe thrustbearing and bearing 0 The thrust bearing a is automaticallyself-aligning and. serves to iinprove the steering qualities of teeknuckle quite materially.

Although the invention has been described in connection With thespecific form of knuckle shown in the accompanying drawings, it is notto be limited, save as defined in the appended claims.

1 cl aim as my invention:

1. In a steering knuckle and knuckle pin, a hollow cylindrical portionformed on the knuckle, an aperture in the knuckle above the cylindricalportion to receive the end of an axle, a bearing carried by thecylindrical portion to support the knuckle pin and a hollow portion inthe knuckle above the aperture and forming a cylindrical chamber toreceive a wheel spindle.

2. In a steering knuckle and knuckle pin, a hollow cylindrical portionformed on the knuckle, an aperture in the knuckle above the cylindricalportion, to receive the end of an axle, a hollow portion in the knuckleabove the aperture and forming a. CYllIlClPlCillClltlHlher to receive awheel spindle, a cap reinov ably secured in the cylindrical portion 01"?the knuckle, a thrust bearing between the pin and cap, and a cylindricalflange on the cap carrying a radial bearing for the lower end of theknuckle pin.

This specification signed this 3rd day of February, A. D., 1928.

ERV'ING R. GURNEY.

